On the Road, Off the Phone

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Owen Freeman
10 years ago
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1 Did you know? Cell phone use behind the wheel is a growing concern. According to CTIA The Wireless Association, in 1995, cell phone subscriptions covered only 11% of the U.S. population. By 2010, that number grew to 93%. As the number of cell phone users continues to increase, so does the number of drivers distracted by cell phones. Most people understand the visual and mechanical distractions caused by texting behind the wheel. These are obvious distractions, as they take both the driver s hands off the wheel and eyes off the road. But did you know: On the Road, Off the Phone Nearly 1 out of every 4 motor vehicle crashes involve cell phone use. 62% of drivers recognize that talking on a cell phone is a very serious threat to their personal safety. Yet more than 2 out of every 3 drivers admit to talking on their cell phone in the past month. 1 Why the disconnect? It s important to understand the three main kinds of distraction: 1. Visual: Eyes on road 2. Mechanical: Hands on wheel 3. Cognitive: Mind on driving Safe driving is about more than hands on the wheel and eyes on the road it s about focusing solely on the task of driving. When drivers engage in two activities that require a great amount of mental focus, the brain quickly switches between those tasks sequentially. As a result, the brain suffers from inattention blindness. As it switches its focus and attention back and forth, the brain loses its ability to process all the eyes see and only a portion of the information is captured. In this situation, drivers look out the windshield, but do not see up to 50% of the driving environment. 2 In fact, the brain is so overloaded that not all critical driving cues such as red lights, stop signs and pedestrians are delivered to the brain. 2% of crashes involve texting behind the wheel, but 21% of crashes involve cell phone conversations (both hands-free and handheld) 3 At any given moment, 0.6% of drivers are visibly manipulating handheld devices while 9% of drivers are talking on cell phones 4 For a white paper on cognitive distraction, visit thebrain.nsc.org.

Most people understand the visual and mechanical distractions caused by texting behind the wheel.

2 Passengers are a safety benefit for adult drivers as they act as an extra set of eyes. Correcting Common Misconceptions Talking on a cell phone, putting on makeup, eating fast food, tuning your radio or reading a map are all dangerous activities to do while driving. However, cell phone driving is a visual, mechanical and cognitive distraction. You must consider duration and frequency. While thousands of people use cell phones while driving, and conversations often last for several minutes. Determining contributing factors for motor vehicle crash data is a challenge because not all police reports capture that data. NSC believes estimates surrounding cell phone crashes are likely conservative. Passengers are a safety benefit for adult drivers as they act as an extra set of eyes. A passenger in a vehicle is aware of the driving situation and can adjust his or her conversation accordingly. However, the person on the other end of the phone call isn t present, so he or she cannot adjust the conversation when the driving environment becomes more challenging. Also, a cell phone conversation often carries a certain obligation of immediacy to respond. What you can do If you are tempted to use your cell phone when driving: Change your voic greeting to indicate you are driving and will call back when safely parked Put your cell phone in your trunk or glove box Turn your cell phone on silent If you need to contact someone, pull over to a safe location and put your vehicle in Park If you are a passenger and the driver wants to use a cell phone: Tell the driver you are uncomfortable with his or her cell phone use If you are talking to someone who is driving: Ask the person to call you when he or she is parked in a safe location Tell the person you will call back later Share this with your friends and family and visit distracteddriving.nsc.org for more information. 1 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Survey, Strayer, NSC Attributable Risk Estimate Model, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Safety Council

However, cell phone driving is a visual, mechanical and cognitive distraction. You must consider duration and frequency.

3 Keep your on mind the road On the Road, Off the Phone nsc.org/nsm

4 Mantén tu atención en el camino Cuando manejes, no uses el teléfono celular nsc.org/nsm

5 CROSSWORD PUZZLE On the Road, Off the Phone 4. Drivers talking on their cell phone do not see up to % of the driving environment. 5. The brain suffers from blindness when a driver engages in two activities that require a great amount of mental focus. 6. Nearly one in crashes are estimated to involve cell phone use. 8. As it switches its focus and attention back and forth, the loses its ability to process all the eyes see so only a portion of the information is captured. 9. At any given moment, 0.6% of drivers are visibly manipulating handheld devices while 9% of drivers are on phones. 11. If you need to use your cell phone, pull over to a safe location and put your vehicle in. 12. Change your greeting to indicate you might be driving and will 14. Passengers are a safety for adult drivers as they act as an extra set of eyes. 16. Determining contributing factors for motor vehicle crash data is a challenge because not all reports capture that data % of drivers recognize that talking on cell phones is a very threat to their personal safety. 18. Turning your phone on is a good way to avoid using your cell phone while driving. 19. If you are a passenger and the driver wants to use a cell phone, tell the driver you are with his or her cell phone use. 1. Cell phone use while driving is a, mechanical and cognitive distraction. 2. Lawmakers and the public seem to understand the visual and mechanical distractions caused by behind the wheel. 3. distractions, such as a phone conversation, often last much longer than visual or manual distractions % of crashes involve cell phone conversations (both hands- and handheld). 7. When driving, put your phone in your or glove box. 10. It s important not to talk on the phone while driving to keep yourself and others. 13. Having your hands off the wheel is otherwise known as distraction. 15. In 1995, cell phone subscriptions covered only % of the U.S. population. By 2010, that number grew to 93%. call back when safely parked e 2011 National Safety Council

As it switches its focus and attention back and forth, the loses its ability to process all the eyes see so only a portion of the information is captured. 9. At any given moment, 0.

6 CROSSWORD PUZZLE KEY Overexertion Teen Driving Slips, Trips and Falls On the Road, Off the Phone 5. weight 2. safety belts 1. vision 4. fifty 7. unintentional 3. practice 3. rungs 5. inattention 10. proper 5. drinking 7. wheels 6. four 11. warm 6. parents 8. ladder 8. brain 14. nose 9. teen 9. falls 9. talking 15. muscles 10. one 10. surroundings 11. park 16. position 11. months 12. traffic 12. voic 17. body 12. three 13. active 14. benefit 18. signs 13. law 15. tripping 16. police 19. inflammation 14. comprehensive 17. distractions 17. serious 16. zero 17. mandatory 18. excercise 19. unguarded 18. silent 19. uncomfortable 1. frequent 2. physical 3. twist 4. recover 6. square 8. overexertion 9. large 12. footing 13. ergonomics 18. fifteen 19. shared 20. modeling 1. graduated 4. passengers 7. nighttime 8. cell phone 15. earlier 2. spills 4. uneven 5. emergency 6. gates 9. four 11. handrails 14. cords 16. hazards 1. visual 2. texting 3. cognitive 6. free 7. trunk 10. safe 13. mechanical 15. eleven e 2011 National Safety Council

voicemail 17. body 12. three 13. active 14. benefit 18. signs 13. law 15. tripping 16. police 19. inflammation 14. comprehensive 17. distractions 17. serious 16. zero 17. mandatory 18. excercise 19.

Cell Phone Distracted Driving is Impaired Driving. John Ulczycki National Safety Council

Cell Phone Distracted Driving is Impaired Driving John Ulczycki National Safety Council What Is Distracted Driving? Measuring The Risks of Distracted Driving Epidemiology research Correlations of emergency